75

Friends, the contest is over! The winning number was 3, picked by R. Schumacher. Thanks everybody for joining the contest!

'ello, ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, ducks and mallards, children of all ages! It is time for organizing another amazing community lottery, our beloved duck giveaway 2016! Quack!

The prize

The prize will be a lovely duck! Not a real one, I am afraid (note to self: organize another lottery with real ducks in the future), it will be a hand puppet duck:

Quack!

Lovely, isn't it?

Again, why a duck? Why not a lion?

As I mentioned in the thread linked here, I always like to provide examples with ducks when I write answers. To my surprise, the theme got a very positive feedback from the community and it spread to everybody. Of course, a lion would be better, but hey, it's free! And it's a duck! :)

Why a hand puppet?

This will be our second lottery offering a duck puppet and I still have absolutely no idea. But since I got this duck again, I thought it would be a good idea to start a contest! :)

Rules

Rules from last lottery still apply:

  • To win the duck you must guess a number in the range 1-200. The first person who guesses the right number gets the duck.

  • Contestants may submit 2 valid guesses.

  • Please post your guess as an answer to this meta question, not as a comment.

  • Contestants must have been a member of TeX.sx before 1 March, 2016.

Two additional mentions:

  • If two or more people choose the same number, only the oldest entry will be considered. The other guesses will be automatically disqualified.

  • If you win the contest, I will need your real name and address for shipping and customs purposes (you can contact me through email, so only I will have privileged access). If you seek anonymity, we advise you to not enter this contest.

Please don't forget to edit the punch card with your numbers.


The lottery

As seen in the last lottery, I'll use the following code to pick the winner (special thanks to the awesome LaTeX Project for LaTeX3):

\documentclass{article}

\usepackage[T1]{fontenc}
\usepackage[utf8]{inputenc}

\usepackage{expl3}
\usepackage{xparse}

\usepackage{pgf}
\pgfmathsetseed{\number\pdfrandomseed}

\ExplSyntaxOn

\prop_new:N \g_duck_contest_prop
\int_new:N \g_duck_contest_upper_limit_int
\bool_new:N \l_duck_contest_winner_bool
\bool_set_false:N \l_duck_contest_winner_bool
\tl_new:N \l_duck_contest_winner_tl
\int_new:N \l_duck_contest_winning_number_int

\NewDocumentCommand { \person } { m m }
{
    \clist_map_inline:nn { #1 }
    {
        \prop_if_in:NnTF \g_duck_contest_prop { ##1 }
        {
            Hey! ~ #2 ~ wants ~ to ~ be ~ naughty! ~
            The ~ number ~ ##1 ~ was ~ already ~ chosen! \par
        }
        {
            \prop_gput:Nnn \g_duck_contest_prop { ##1 } { #2 }
            \int_gset:Nn \g_duck_contest_upper_limit_int
            {
                \int_max:nn { \g_duck_contest_upper_limit_int } { ##1 }
            }
        }
    }
}

\NewDocumentCommand{ \winner } { }
{
    \bool_do_until:Nn \l_duck_contest_winner_bool
    {
        \pgfmathrandom{1, \g_duck_contest_upper_limit_int}
        \prop_get:NoN \g_duck_contest_prop { \pgfmathresult } \l_duck_contest_winner_tl
        \quark_if_no_value:NF \l_duck_contest_winner_tl
        {
            \bool_set_true:N \l_duck_contest_winner_bool
        }
    }
    \int_set_eq:NN \l_duck_contest_winning_number_int \pgfmathresult
    \l_duck_contest_winner_tl
}

\cs_generate_variant:Nn \prop_get:NnN { No }

\NewDocumentCommand{ \winningnumber } { }
{
    \int_to_arabic:n \l_duck_contest_winning_number_int
}

\ExplSyntaxOff

\begin{document}

% add yourself here
% ==============================
% For example, in the following line
% I picked 1 and 27, but I'm not
% participating in the contest :)
% \person{1,27}{Paulo Cereda}
\person{5,29}{Ulrike Fischer}
\person{42,108}{Christian Hupfer}
\person{0,201}{David Carlisle}
\person{1,200}{egreg}
\person{88,97}{yo'}
\person{6,28}{Matsmath}
\person{17,23}{Martin Schröder}
\person{13,111}{cfr}
\person{50,150}{Werner}
\person{199,91}{Kurt}
\person{133,55}{Arun Debray}
\person{123,132}{A Feldman}
\person{2,198}{Peter Grill}
\person{52,190}{Paul Gaborit}
\person{7,70}{Henri Menke}
\person{8,63}{Ignasi}
\person{84,157}{Sigur}
\person{18,67}{EngBIRD}
\person{131,68}{percusse}
\person{119,120}{Marijn}
\person{101,102}{runartrollet}
\person{80,112}{Alan Munn}
\person{113,86}{barbara beeton}
\person{3,197}{R.\ Schumacher}
\person{16,109}{Przemysław Scherwentke}
\person{64,144}{Mico}
\person{57,167}{ppr}
\person{4,76}{René B.\ Christensen}
\person{161,33}{Rmano}
\person{26}{Davïd} % pick another number
\person{22,171}{Claudio Fiandrino}
\person{9,11}{marczellm}
\person{39,196}{ebo}
\person{19,99}{Alenanno}
\person{187,115}{JP-Ellis}
\person{125,147}{silvascientist}
\person{128,32}{Mathias711}
\person{191,192}{azetina}
\person{41,43}{jknappen}
%\person{31,62}{Emre} % user does not meet criteria
\person{122,175}{mvkorpel}
\person{48,53}{martin}
%\person{53,187}{Penbeuz} % both numbers were taken
\person{69,96}{Saravana Kumar}
\person{38,77}{daleif}
\person{142,184}{Romain Picot}
\person{10,100}{Kevin}
\person{179,40}{carnendil}
\person{21,12}{Jon Mark Perry}
\person{92,90}{Canageek}
\person{93,105}{Ethan Bolker}
\person{167,103}{Saz} % 167 was taken
\person{20,46}{Vadim}
\person{83,98}{MattAllegro}
\person{165,166}{Douba}
\person{31,118}{ArTourter}
\person{121,141}{Azor-Ahai}
\person{74,193}{Diaa Abidou}
\person{51,127}{rekire}
\person{24,89}{Thoge}
\person{135,155}{jat255}
\person{61,172}{Kevin}
\person{37,73}{John}
\person{65,47}{Matthew Leingang}
\person{178,15}{Fran}
\person{54,154}{Calvin Khor}
\person{49,81}{Peter LeFanu Lumsdaine}
\person{168,169}{Oxinabox}
\person{164,45}{Habi}
\person{14,25}{Jake}
%\person{2,25}{Xylius} % user does not meet criteria
\person{136,58}{jaam}
\person{85,100}{SHY.John} % 100 was taken
\person{36,153}{wipet}
\person{137,170}{Earthliŋ}
\person{27,71}{FvD}
\person{129,134}{Andreï Kostyrka}
\person{82,195}{Kumaresh}
\person{35,78}{Akiiino}
\person{186,177}{Mostly Harmless}
\person{181,182}{biozic}
\person{126}{Shane} % pick another number
\person{72,79}{Alvaro Carril}
\person{173,107}{TobiO}
%\person{106,107}{pfuhlert} % user does not meet criteria
\person{30,34}{Kurt Pfeifle}
\person{87,116}{Jason Zentz}
\person{114,56}{Brydon Gibson}
%\person{17,89}{René G} % both taken
\person{163,145}{Eridan}
\person{66,110}{JCSalomon}
% ==============================

% the announcement
The winner is \winner, with \winningnumber! Congratulations!

\end{document}

I will run this code with all the contestants, post a video of it and announce the winner. The "accepted answer" in this thread will reflect the winning number.

The date

Hopefully, I will get the code running on July 1, 2016 (Friday), and announce the winner. There will be enough time for guessing the numbers!

Good luck! And by the way, welcome to TeX.sx, the friendliest and most awesome community in the whole StackExchange network! They give us hats, right? We give ducks! Quack! :)


----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
|◖■◗|◖■◗|◖■◗|◖■◗|◖■◗|◖■◗|◖■◗|◖■◗|◖■◗|◖■◗|◖■◗|◖■◗|◖■◗|◖■◗|◖■◗|◖■◗|◖■◗|◖■◗|◖■◗|◖■◗|
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
|◖■◗|◖■◗|◖■◗|◖■◗|◖■◗|◖■◗|◖■◗|◖■◗|◖■◗|◖■◗|◖■◗|◖■◗|◖■◗|◖■◗|◖■◗|◖■◗|◖■◗|◖■◗|◖■◗|◖■◗|
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
|◖■◗|◖■◗|◖■◗|044|◖■◗|◖■◗|◖■◗|◖■◗|◖■◗|◖■◗|◖■◗|◖■◗|◖■◗|◖■◗|◖■◗|◖■◗|◖■◗|058|059|060|
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
|◖■◗|062|◖■◗|◖■◗|◖■◗|◖■◗|◖■◗|◖■◗|◖■◗|◖■◗|◖■◗|◖■◗|◖■◗|◖■◗|075|◖■◗|◖■◗|◖■◗|◖■◗|◖■◗|
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
|◖■◗|◖■◗|◖■◗|◖■◗|◖■◗|◖■◗|◖■◗|◖■◗|◖■◗|◖■◗|◖■◗|◖■◗|◖■◗|094|095|◖■◗|◖■◗|◖■◗|◖■◗|◖■◗|
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
|◖■◗|◖■◗|◖■◗|104|◖■◗|106|◖■◗|◖■◗|◖■◗|◖■◗|◖■◗|◖■◗|◖■◗|◖■◗|◖■◗|◖■◗|117|◖■◗|◖■◗|◖■◗|
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
|◖■◗|◖■◗|◖■◗|124|◖■◗|◖■◗|◖■◗|◖■◗|◖■◗|130|◖■◗|◖■◗|◖■◗|◖■◗|◖■◗|◖■◗|◖■◗|138|139|140|
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
|◖■◗|◖■◗|143|◖■◗|◖■◗|146|◖■◗|148|149|◖■◗|◖■◗|◖■◗|◖■◗|◖■◗|◖■◗|156|◖■◗|158|159|160|
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
|◖■◗|162|◖■◗|◖■◗|◖■◗|◖■◗|◖■◗|◖■◗|◖■◗|◖■◗|◖■◗|◖■◗|◖■◗|174|◖■◗|176|◖■◗|◖■◗|◖■◗|180|
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
|◖■◗|◖■◗|183|◖■◗|185|◖■◗|◖■◗|188|189|◖■◗|◖■◗|◖■◗|◖■◗|194|◖■◗|◖■◗|◖■◗|◖■◗|◖■◗|◖■◗|
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

◖■◗

Results

The winner of the duck in this edition is R. Schumacher, and the chosen number was 3! I recorded the results in my terminal and the session is available here. Thanks everybody for joining the contest! And thanks for being part of this amazing community! Quack! :)

22
  • 13
    Me wants duck! ;-)
    – user31729
    Commented May 27, 2016 at 21:00
  • 2
    Mae angen hwyaden arna fi ... ;)
    – cfr
    Commented May 27, 2016 at 23:28
  • :'( I have been member only since April, 2016 :'( I'll have to wait till the real duck lottery :'(
    – CarLaTeX
    Commented May 29, 2016 at 5:13
  • 2
    @CarLaTeX: Oh I am so sorry to hear. But there will be other contests in which you can participate. The most important thing is that you are now part of the community. Welcome! Commented May 29, 2016 at 16:43
  • Thank you, @PauloCereda!
    – CarLaTeX
    Commented May 30, 2016 at 4:50
  • 2
    It's not letting me edit the punch card! Commented Jun 1, 2016 at 4:10
  • 2
    @silvascientist: we will update accordingly at some point, do not worry. :) Commented Jun 1, 2016 at 10:42
  • 2
    @PauloCereda: The downvote shows a bad attitude really -- (what I've read by some questions/posts here), there's not much of well-designed humorous games/contests on other SE sites. We should be glad to have this one here!
    – user31729
    Commented Jun 4, 2016 at 8:20
  • 1
    I've already got one, so I won't enter, but I can confirm it's a cute duck hand puppet :-) Commented Jun 4, 2016 at 11:53
  • @NicolaTalbot You don't think it is lonesome for its own kind, then?
    – cfr
    Commented Jun 10, 2016 at 2:09
  • 2
    @cfr It sometimes hangs out with a parrot hand puppet for a bit of company. :-) Commented Jun 10, 2016 at 9:03
  • I'd be quacking to this if i could :-)
    – Georges
    Commented Jun 13, 2016 at 7:29
  • The {ducks} tag has only 2 questions and 0 followers. This is a sorry state of affairs indeed.
    – onewhaleid
    Commented Jun 14, 2016 at 23:01
  • You should organise a lottery with a prize bobcat delivered via postal service (hello xkcd). Commented Jun 14, 2016 at 23:43
  • @onewhaleid: check the tag description. :) Commented Jun 22, 2016 at 14:10

89 Answers 89

15

Nothing better than good prime duck, so 3 and 197 (lowest and highest available prime numbers)

3
  • 1
    I wonder if the solution to the Riemann hypothesis involves ducks. :) Thank you for joining the contest! Commented May 29, 2016 at 11:05
  • @PauloCereda Very Possible. Here is a reference. Student Handbook for Discrete Mathematics with Ducks : SRRSLEH by Sarah-Marie Belcastro, CRC Press Commented May 29, 2016 at 21:35
  • 7
    Congrats, you won the duck! :) Commented Jul 1, 2016 at 10:39
27

0, 201 .....................................................

1
  • 13
    I will change the range just so you can win the duck. :) Commented May 28, 2016 at 17:43
20

2 and 198 (to be close to both egreg and David because they seem to always know what they are doing on TeX.SE)

2
  • 3
    That's a good strategy, Peter! :) Thank you for joining the contest! Commented May 28, 2016 at 17:40
  • 2
    You're starting from a false premise. I'm referring to David, of course.
    – egreg
    Commented Jun 11, 2016 at 14:21
18

113 and 86 (the ages of my mother and sister if they had survived this long).

1
  • Thank you for joining the contest, barbara! Commented May 29, 2016 at 0:46
17

1 and 200 (just to be more daring than David)

2
  • 1
    ooh this is a cunning plan! Thank you for joining the contest, pal! Commented May 28, 2016 at 17:42
  • 2
    @PauloCereda or is a copied Idea from Mr. Gauss ... You know the story that the teacher asked the class to add the first 100 numbers? Gauss found a simple, very fast solution, easiliy expandable to 1..200, etc. :-) (Sorry, could not resist, egreg and Paulo)
    – Mensch
    Commented May 29, 2016 at 15:46
12

133 and 55.

…do stressed ducks quack under pressure when their goose is cooked? (Sorry if you're not pond of these daffy puns.)

3
  • 9
    Q: Why do ducks watch the news? A: For the feather forecast! :) Thank you for joining the contest! Commented May 28, 2016 at 17:41
  • 8
    I watched the feather forecast, but I felt down afterwards... Commented May 28, 2016 at 20:41
  • @ArunDebray Mine got blown away :-(
    – yo'
    Commented Jun 8, 2016 at 11:35
10

97 and 88, because:

sage: randint(1,200)
97
sage: randint(1,200)
88
1
  • 1
    Good luck, Tom! Thank you for joining the contest! Commented May 28, 2016 at 17:42
10

18 and 67 for the years of Canadian confederation. While not ducks, the Canadian goose is considered waterfowl...

1
  • 1
    Thank you for joining the contest! Commented May 28, 2016 at 17:31
9

I am opting for the two perfect numbers 6 and 28.

1
  • 1
    Thank you for joining the contest! Commented May 28, 2016 at 17:34
9

As always;


131; I'm a random number generator myself and this is the result.

Also another generator agrees;

enter image description here

I have generated another one which is 68.

3
  • 2
    I wub you sir! Thank you for joining the contest! Commented May 28, 2016 at 17:34
  • @percusse Wow, not "pseudo" random? I'm impressed Commented Jun 19, 2016 at 18:49
  • @Mageek That's how I roll.
    – percusse
    Commented Jun 19, 2016 at 18:50
9

007 and 070. Help me win this, James Bond!

enter image description here

1
  • 2
    Yay, MI5! Thank you for joining the contest, Henri! Commented May 28, 2016 at 17:39
8

13 and 111.

Cwac, cwac a chwac!!

1
  • 1
    Pob lwc! Cwac, cwac! :) Commented May 28, 2016 at 17:41
8

Well, obviously the numbers have to be generated from "DUCK" and "QUACK", so my choices are 004 and 076.

Generated by concatenating the binary ASCII-representations of each letter, taking the remainder modulo 200 of the resulting binary number, and finally adding 1 to ensure that the result is in the desired range.

1
  • 1
    ooh I like this answer! Thank you for joining the contest! :) Commented May 29, 2016 at 11:04
8

026 + {197} are the lowest/highest available numbers which total to my rep. Most other users here would have to add a "k" after it! Is there a consolation prize for "lowest rep user to participate"? :) (The {197} also gets me close to the Big Hitters.)

† Alas! 197 was already taken, so I will just submit a single entry -- which is allowed by The Rules, and fitting for one such as I! :)

7
  • Yay, thanks for joining the contest! Commented May 29, 2016 at 17:22
  • 1
    Hey @PauloCereda - If I quack nicely, would you "punch the card" for me? I can't... :/
    – Dɑvïd
    Commented May 29, 2016 at 19:27
  • was just checking the card, and 197 was already taken by R. Schumacher. please choose another. (196 is also chosen, by ebo, but not yet marked, although i'm working through that;) Commented Jun 2, 2016 at 18:49
  • @barbarabeeton - And I thought I had checked so closely! (Pretty sure 196 was still available when I entered -- ah well!) Someone later also opted for 26, though ... but I think I got in first with that one!
    – Dɑvïd
    Commented Jun 2, 2016 at 20:06
  • well, i got bored with what i was doing (or rather, wanted to escape from the headache it was causing), so i checked the marks on the card against the chosen numbers and punched a lot of "holes". i found quite a few more already-taken numbers, and even one that seems to have been punched with no one having chosen it. have to be nice to paulo; he's supposed to be writing his thesis. Commented Jun 2, 2016 at 20:14
  • @barbarabeeton Not really structured procrastination (looks like page is down at native URL) -- but something a bit like it. :) I've been wondering if this Giveaway is, in fact, research and data-gathering for the aforementioned thesis....
    – Dɑvïd
    Commented Jun 3, 2016 at 8:39
  • oh, i'm quite a practiced procrastinator. have got years of experience! deadlines do usually get sufficient attention though, at least enough to deliver what is expected. the essay you point to is quite delightful, although i'll have to put off reading it till later. Commented Jun 3, 2016 at 12:29
6

29 and 5 and some text to fill up to fill up to fill up

1
  • 1
    Thank you for joining the contest, Ulrike! Commented May 28, 2016 at 17:41
6

123 and 132 are my picks. Mostly because I really want that duck! Next year maybe ... duck dinner?

1
  • 1
    Good luck, buddy! Thank you for joining the contest! Commented May 28, 2016 at 17:39
6

I am opting for the number 42 (not because of Douglas Adams, but because that's my current age) and 108 (No, that's not my real age ;-))

But I don't want to win this duck -- it's scratched :-P

3
  • 8
    This duck is not pining, he is passed on! This duck is no more! He has ceased to be! He's expired and gone to meet his maker! He's a stiff! Bereft of life, he rests in peace! If you hadn't chose these two numbers he'd be pushing up the daisies! His metabolic processes are now part of a documentary in the History Channel! He's off the twig! He's kicked the bucket, he's shuffled off his mortal coil, run down the curtain and joined the bleeding choir invisible! THIS IS AN EX-DUCK!! Also, thank you for joining the contest! :) Commented May 28, 2016 at 17:38
  • what a pity - I would have chosen 42 too, because it's the answer . Good luck! Commented Jun 16, 2016 at 0:02
  • @MostlyHarmless ;-) Thanks
    – user31729
    Commented Jun 16, 2016 at 17:50
6

Am I adding something you?

A provocative question. But, indeed, I am adding something new -- so far nobody has selected the correct answer, which is, of course, 126. Why is it correct? Because I selected it. Anybody who selected two numbers is simply admitting that they fear that their first choice may be incorrect. Not I. As David has already done, I refuse to take a second number. In the Trumpian future, it is better to be sure you're right and wrong than to be an uncertainty-admitting coward. Only David and I will prosper. To whoever wins this duck, enjoy your duck. For now. Soon David and I will own all ducks, everywhere. And most geese. Then we'll see who's honking...

2
  • Oh my! :) Thanks for joining the contest, good luck! :) Commented Jun 20, 2016 at 8:14
  • @PauloCereda Thank you for organizing! :P
    – Shane
    Commented Jun 20, 2016 at 8:20
5

17, 23 Skidoo.

1
  • 1
    ooh spooky! :) Thank you for joining the contest, Martin! Commented May 28, 2016 at 17:35
5

50 and 150 are how much I value yellow ducks.

1
  • 1
    Yes, yes, YES! Yellow ducks FTW! Thank you for joining the contest! Commented May 28, 2016 at 17:35
5

I choose 199 and 91 because they both build my last reached palindrome rep 19991.

1
  • 3
    ooh palindromic reputation! :) Thank you for joining the contest! Commented May 28, 2016 at 17:34
5

I choose 084 and 157 but I don't know why.

Regards.

1
  • 2
    Good luck, buddy! Thank you for joining the contest! Commented May 28, 2016 at 17:34
5

64 and 144 -- two square numbers!

1
  • Thank you for joining the contest, Mico! :) Commented May 29, 2016 at 10:59
5

57 and 167 for me !

This giveaway should be sponsorised by DuckDuckGo (the search engine)

1
  • 1
    ooh the more ducks, the quackier! Thank you for joining the contest! :) Commented May 29, 2016 at 11:00
5

Well, to honor my other "creative" group (photography), I chose 161 and 33...

Hint for 161: https://tex.stackexchange.com/a/146583/38080

...and 33 is quite trivial.

2
  • 1
    Grazie mille for joining the contest! Commented May 29, 2016 at 15:51
  • Non c'è di che --- thanks for the contest!
    – Rmano
    Commented May 29, 2016 at 15:55
5

008 and 063 and some more characters to pass the minimum required

Update: 037 third number

6
  • 1
    Thank you for joining the contest! Muchas gracias, amigo! Commented May 28, 2016 at 17:32
  • Ignasi, I think you have updated the wrong post see here
    – CarLaTeX
    Commented Dec 29, 2016 at 12:01
  • Oopsie. :) <3 Commented Dec 29, 2016 at 15:50
  • @CarLaTeX: I think he wants the duck so much. :) Commented Dec 29, 2016 at 15:50
  • @PauloCereda (Almost) everybody wants the duck!
    – CarLaTeX
    Commented Dec 29, 2016 at 16:00
  • @PauloCereda: Ups! I did it from my phone and didn't check it. Next time I'll do from a computed with a large display ;-)
    – Ignasi
    Commented Jan 2, 2017 at 20:00
4

80 and 112.

The reason involves character conversion and multiple another languages.

(Guesses as to the exact method solicited in the comments.)

2
  • Thank you for joining the contest, Alan! And I have no idea about the methods. :) Commented May 29, 2016 at 0:46
  • @PauloCereda Really? This is tailor made for your skill set.
    – Alan Munn
    Commented May 29, 2016 at 3:38
4

125 and 147, because Mathematica's RandomInteger[{1, 200}, 2] has decreed it so.

1
  • Thank you very much for joining the contest! Commented May 31, 2016 at 22:28
4

191 and 192 it is, I think :).........

3
  • Thank you for joining the contest! Commented Jun 1, 2016 at 10:41
  • oh, dear! both already chosen! (007 by Henri Menke, and 111 by cfr.) please choose again! Commented Jun 2, 2016 at 18:55
  • @barbarabeeton changed to 191 and 192
    – azetina
    Commented Jun 3, 2016 at 4:26
4

24 and 89

%ToDo think of a witty joke to insert in your answer

1
  • Thanks for joining the contest! Commented Jun 7, 2016 at 15:55

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